Explanation
A proton is a fundamental particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Its mass is relatively large compared to other particles like electrons, but smaller than some other subatomic particles.
Mesons are a type of particle made up of a quark and an antiquark.
Their mass range varies, but generally falls between that of a proton and an electron.
Some mesons, like the very heavy upsilon mesons, can have a mass significantly greater than a proton.